noscapine and Precursor-Cell-Lymphoblastic-Leukemia-Lymphoma

Noscapine is an orally administrable drug used worldwide for cough suppression and has recently been demonstrated to disrupt microtubule dynamics and possess anticancer activity. However, the molecular mechanisms regulating noscapine activity remain poorly defined. Here we demonstrate that cylindromatosis (CYLD), a microtubule-associated tumor suppressor protein, modulates the activity of noscapine both in cell lines and in primary cells of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Flow cytometry and immunofluorescence microscopy reveal that CYLD increases the ability of noscapine to induce mitotic arrest and apoptosis. Examination of cellular microtubules as well as in vitro assembled microtubules shows that CYLD enhances the effect of noscapine on microtubule polymerization. Microtubule cosedimentation and fluorescence titration assays further reveal that CYLD interacts with microtubule outer surface and promotes noscapine binding to microtubules. These findings thus demonstrate CYLD as a critical regulator of noscapine activity and have important implications for ALL treatment.

Topics: Apoptosis; Cell Cycle Checkpoints; Cell Line, Tumor; Deubiquitinating Enzyme CYLD; Humans; Microtubules; Mitosis; Noscapine; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma; Tumor Suppressor Proteins

We have identified a new class of microtubule-binding compounds-noscapinoids-that alter microtubule dynamics at stoichiometric concentrations without affecting tubulin polymer mass. Noscapinoids show great promise as chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of human cancers. To investigate the structural determinants of noscapinoids responsible for anti-cancer activity, we tested 36 structurally diverse noscapinoids in human acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells (CEM). The IC(50) values of these noscapinoids vary from 1.2 to 56.0 μM. Pharmacophore models of anti-cancer activity were generated that identify two hydrogen bond acceptors, two aromatic rings, two hydrophobic groups, and one positively charged group as essential structural features. Additionally, an atom-based quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) model was developed that gave a statistically satisfying result (R(2) = 0.912, Q(2) = 0.908, Pearson R = 0.951) and effectively predicts the anti-cancer activity of training and test set compounds. The pharmacophore model presented here is well supported by electronic property analysis using density functional theory at B3LYP/3-21*G level. Molecular electrostatic potential, particularly localization of negative potential near oxygen atoms of the dimethoxy isobenzofuranone ring of active compounds, matched the hydrogen bond acceptor feature of the generated pharmacophore. Our results further reveal that all active compounds have smaller lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energies concentrated over the dimethoxy isobenzofuranone ring, azido group, and nitro group, which is indicative of the electron acceptor capacity of the compounds. Results obtained from this study will be useful in the efficient design and development of more active noscapinoids.

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Humans; Hydrogen Bonding; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; Microtubules; Models, Molecular; Noscapine; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma; Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship; Static Electricity